Jewish scouts say lifting of ban on gays is ‘momentous’

JTA

May 24, 2013 | 10:52 am

Jennifer Tyrrell, left, hugging Pascal Tessier at a news conference in Grapevine, Texas, following the Boy Scouts of America’s decision to end its policy of prohibiting openly gay youths from participating in Scout activities. (Stewart House/Getty)

Jewish scouting leaders say they are “overjoyed” after the Boy Scouts of America passed a resolution lifting a ban on gay youth.

A.J. Kreimer, the outgoing chairman of the Nation Jewish Committee on Scouting, said Friday the decision reached at the BSA’s national convention in Dallas on Thursday was “momentous.”

“Anything we can do to get more young people, especially Jewish youth, involved is a great day for Judaism and for scouting,” he said.

Members of the Boy Scouts of America’s national council passed the contested resolution by a majority vote of 61 percent.

NJCOS and other Jewish groups had been vocal in their support for lifting the ban.

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